A Gopalakrishnan

Dr A Gopalakrishnan has extensive experience in the fields of nuclear power, nuclear safety, and nuclear non-proliferation. He was Chairman of India’s Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (1993-96). He was also Chairman of the 15-nation IAEA Drafting Committee for the International Convention on Nuclear Safety (1993).

A graduate in electrical engineering from the University of Kerala and alumnus of the post-graduate programme at Bhabha Atomic Energy Centre’s school, Dr Gopalakrishnan received a MS (1967) and PhD (1969) in nuclear engineering at the University of California at Berkeley. From 1969-73, he was Manager (Reactor Core Analysis), Experimental Fast Breeder Reactor Project , Argonne National Laboratory, US Atomic Energy Commission. He spent the next three years as Programme Manager, Nuclear Safety Division, Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto. He returned to India in 1976 and till 1987 was General Manager & Executive Director (R&D) with Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd, responsible for the design and support activities on civilian nuclear plants in India.

Since 2003 Dr Gopalakrishnan is Honorary Professor, Energy & Security, at Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad. During 2000-2003, Dr Gopalakrishnan was Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Belfer Centre for Science and International Affairs, John F Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.